Oakland: Explosion and fire at apartment building

OAKLAND -- Firefighters late Friday responded to a large explosion and fire at an apartment building in the 600 block of East 17th Street.

According to a fire dispatcher and posts on the Oakland Firefighters Twitter account, crews controlled the fire and evacuated the building because of structural damage.

The two-alarm fire in the back unit of a multi-family apartment building may have been caused by an explosion of butane canisters, Battalion Chief Melinda Drayton said. It was reported around 10:45 p.m.

Drayton said two people with possible burn injuries were seen leaving the unit. Police are looking for them.